Cranbrook School 11 Plus: Exam & Preparation Guide
Cranbrook School is a mixed selective grammar school in Kent. Children applying for Year 7 entry sit the Kent Test, also known as the Kent PESE or Kent 11 Plus, which assesses English, Maths and Reasoning across two multiple-choice tests alongside a separate writing exercise. This guide explains the Cranbrook School 11 Plus exam format, what its demands mean for preparation, and how Learning Street’s courses and Kent 11 Plus mock exams can help your child prepare effectively.
Cranbrook School 11 Plus at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| School | Cranbrook School |
| Location | Cranbrook, Kent |
| School type | Mixed selective grammar school |
| Entrance test | Kent Test / Kent PESE |
| Exam provider | GL Assessment |
| Exam structure | Two scored multiple-choice tests plus a separate writing exercise |
| Areas tested | English, Maths and Reasoning, including Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning |
| Scoring | English, Maths and Reasoning scores are age-standardised |
Information and Mock Exam Review: The information on this page and Learning Street’s Kent 11 Plus mock exams are reviewed against the latest reliable information available about the Kent Test used for Year 7 entry to Cranbrook School.
Learning Street’s Kent-specific mock exams cover the two scored multiple-choice tests, including English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. They use researched Kent timings, separate answer sheets and parent invigilation instructions to help children experience the practical demands of the test at home.
The separate Kent Test writing exercise is not included in the current Learning Street Kent Mock Packs, so this should be prepared for separately.
View Cranbrook School’s latest Year 7 admissions information
Quick Contents
Use the links below to jump straight to the section you need.
Exam Format | Mock Exams | Pass Marks | Preparation | Courses
Cranbrook School 11 Plus Exam Format
The Cranbrook School 11 Plus uses the Kent Test, which consists of two multiple-choice tests covering English, Maths and Reasoning, followed by a separate writing exercise.
The first test covers English and Maths and takes one hour. Each subject begins with a five-minute practice exercise followed by a 25-minute test. The English section includes reading comprehension alongside additional questions designed to test literacy skills.
The second test is a Reasoning paper lasting approximately one hour including practice sections. It contains Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with the Non-Verbal Reasoning element divided into shorter sections which are timed individually.
Both scored tests use multiple-choice questions with a separate answer sheet. Children therefore need to understand the questions while also recording each answer against the correct question number accurately.
The Kent Test also contains a 40-minute writing exercise, including 10 minutes for planning. This is not routinely marked as part of the numerical Kent Test score, although it may be considered during the Headteacher Assessment process.
What Does the Cranbrook School Exam Format Mean for Preparation?
The Cranbrook School entrance exam requires children to combine strong literacy, secure Maths and developed reasoning skills. Preparation therefore needs to build the underlying skills across each area before relying heavily on timed practice papers.
English and Verbal Reasoning are closely connected. A child may understand how to approach a reasoning question but still lose time if unfamiliar vocabulary makes the words difficult to interpret. Reading and systematic vocabulary development should therefore run throughout Cranbrook School 11 Plus preparation.
Maths needs to become accurate and fluent enough that routine calculations do not consume unnecessary time. Children can then focus more attention on deciding which method a less familiar problem requires.
The individually timed reasoning sections also mean children need experience moving on when time is called rather than relying on extra time from another part of the paper. Accuracy should come first, followed by progressively more timed work as the Kent Test approaches.
Cranbrook School 11 Plus Mock Exams and Practice Papers
Learning Street has developed four Kent 11 Plus mock exam packs for children preparing for Cranbrook School and other grammar schools using the Kent Test.
Our Kent mock exams are designed around the known structure, timings and administration of the current scored Kent Test papers rather than being generic 11 Plus papers with the Kent name added.
Each mock covers English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning. Learning Street also provides researched paper and section timings, separate multiple-choice answer sheets, full parent invigilation instructions and detailed answers and explanations.
This allows children to practise more than individual question types. Completing a full Kent 11 Plus mock also develops the concentration, stamina, time management and answer-sheet accuracy required on the real test day.
All four Kent Mock Packs contain different questions, giving children four separate opportunities to practise under timed conditions and measure their progress.
The separate 40-minute Kent writing exercise is not included in the current Kent Mock Packs.
Pack 1 | Pack 2 | Pack 3 | Pack 4
Save 20% – Buy all four for £48.
Kent 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Cranbrook School 11 Plus Pass Marks and Standardised Scores
There is no permanent Cranbrook School 11 Plus pass mark that should be treated as a fixed future target.
Children receive three age-standardised Kent Test scores: one for English, one for Maths and one for Reasoning, together with a combined aggregate score.
Kent County Council determines the grammar-school assessment threshold for each testing year. Children normally need both the required aggregate score and the required minimum performance in each individual area to receive a grammar-school assessment.
Because the qualifying scores can change between years, historic Kent Test pass marks should only be treated as background information rather than permanent Cranbrook School entrance-exam targets.
A percentage achieved on a Learning Street or other commercial practice paper also cannot be converted directly into an official Kent Test score. Practice papers can differ in difficulty and do not undergo the same age-standardisation process.
For preparation, mock results are more useful for identifying whether a child is becoming consistently strong across English, Maths and Reasoning and whether marks are being lost because of knowledge gaps, vocabulary, accuracy, timing or exam technique.
Being assessed suitable for grammar school does not itself guarantee admission to Cranbrook School. The school’s current admissions criteria are applied where there are more eligible applicants than available places.
View the latest official Kent Test score information
How to Prepare for the Cranbrook School 11 Plus
Effective Cranbrook School 11 Plus preparation should build the underlying skills first and then help children apply those skills accurately under the timed multiple-choice conditions used in the Kent Test.
Learning Street’s approach is to develop core English, Maths, vocabulary and reasoning skills before moving towards planned revision and progressively more timed work. Full Kent 11 Plus mock exams should come later, once children have enough knowledge to benefit from realistic testing.
English Preparation
English preparation should develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Children need to become comfortable reading unfamiliar passages efficiently without sacrificing understanding.
Regular reading should be combined with structured comprehension work and deliberate vocabulary development. This is particularly valuable for the Kent Test because stronger vocabulary can also support performance in Verbal Reasoning.
Maths Preparation
Secure KS2 Maths is essential. Times tables, mental Maths and the four operations should become reliable enough that routine calculations can be completed accurately without consuming unnecessary time.
Once these foundations are secure, children should increasingly tackle mixed problems where they need to decide independently which mathematical method to use rather than being told which topic is being tested.
Verbal Reasoning Preparation
Verbal Reasoning requires both technique and vocabulary. Children should develop systematic approaches to word, letter and logical reasoning questions while continuing to broaden their vocabulary.
The aim should be to understand the underlying relationship being tested rather than simply memorising how a familiar-looking question was answered previously.
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning Preparation
Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning reward careful, systematic observation. Children should learn to inspect features such as shape, number, position, direction, rotation, reflection and shading in a consistent way.
Regular practice helps children develop a method for approaching unfamiliar visual problems rather than choosing an answer simply because it looks plausible.
Writing Preparation
The Kent Test also includes a 40-minute writing exercise, including planning time. Although the writing is not routinely marked as part of the numerical Kent Test score, it may be considered during Headteacher Assessment.
Children should therefore practise planning efficiently and producing a complete, coherent piece of writing within a limited period. Preparation should develop organisation, vocabulary, sentence control, spelling and punctuation alongside creativity.
When your child is ready to apply their English, Maths and Reasoning skills under realistic timed conditions, Learning Street’s Kent 11 Plus mock exams provide structured practice based on the known demands of the test.
View the Kent 11 Plus Mock Exam Bundle – Packs 1–4
Which Cranbrook School 11 Plus Course Should You Choose?
Learning Street offers three main GL preparation routes for children preparing for the Cranbrook School 11 Plus: Complete, Enhance and Boost. These courses combine structured learning, practice, revision and timed testing across Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
The Kent Test also includes a writing exercise, so families can supplement the main GL programme with Learning Street’s Creative Writing Course where additional writing preparation is needed.
The most suitable main course depends largely on how much preparation time remains.
| Preparation time | Learning Street course | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30–40+ weeks | Complete GL | Our most comprehensive preparation |
| 15–30 weeks | Enhance GL | A shorter structured programme |
| 6–15 weeks | Boost GL | Focused preparation when less time remains |
Complete GL — 30–40+ Weeks
Learning Street’s Complete GL 11 Plus Programme is our most comprehensive option. It contains 40 structured parts covering Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning alongside extensive timed testing.
This route is most suitable where there is enough time to build the underlying skills carefully, revisit weaker areas and introduce timed work progressively rather than rushing immediately into full papers.
The Complete GL 11 Plus Programme
Focused Complete options are also available where a child needs additional work in particular areas:
Complete – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Complete – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Enhance GL — 15–30 Weeks
Learning Street’s Enhance GL programme provides a shorter structured route while retaining substantial preparation across Vocabulary, English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
It is designed for families with less preparation time who still want a planned progression through learning, practice, revision and timed work rather than relying on a collection of unrelated practice books.
Focused Enhance options are also available:
Enhance – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Enhance – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Boost GL — 6–15 Weeks
Learning Street’s Boost GL programme is our shortest full preparation route and is intended for families beginning focused Cranbrook School 11 Plus preparation later.
It concentrates the core learning and timed practice into a shorter programme, making it most appropriate when there is insufficient time to complete Complete or Enhance properly.
Focused Boost options are also available:
Boost – Vocabulary, English and Verbal Reasoning
Boost – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning
Because the Kent Test also contains a writing exercise, families who need additional writing preparation can use:
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
Starting Earlier?
If your child is still building the literacy and numeracy foundations needed before dedicated Cranbrook School 11 Plus preparation begins, Learning Street’s primary-school course chooser can help you select an appropriate starting point.
Primary School – Course Chooser for Younger Children
Already Completed Substantial Preparation?
Learning Street’s 11 Plus Revision Course – GL provides structured revision for children who have already covered the core material through books, tutoring or another programme.
It should not normally be completed after one of Learning Street’s full Complete, Enhance or Boost routes because there is some crossover of material.
Also Sitting Independent School Exams?
Children also sitting independent-school entrance tests may need additional preparation in areas or question formats that are not part of the scored Kent Test papers.
11 Plus Creative Writing Course
11 Plus Maths Stretch and Revision
Current Cranbrook School Admissions Information
Cranbrook School uses the Kent Test for normal Year 7 selection. Children need to be assessed suitable for grammar-school education through the Kent PESE process before they can be considered for a Year 7 place.
Being grammar assessed does not itself guarantee admission. Admissions arrangements can change, so families should check Cranbrook School and Kent County Council for the latest Year 7 information when applying.
View Cranbrook School’s latest Year 7 admissions information
View the latest official Kent Test information
For general questions about the 11 Plus, preparation and Learning Street courses:
